Catch for a packing case or the like



Aug. 18, 1964 G. E- S'WANSON 3,145,033

CATCH FOR A PACKING CASE OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 19, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR. GUNNAR E. SWANSON BY- l w (M ATTORNEYS Aug 18, 1964 FiledOct. 19, 1962 FEGIO G. E- SWANSON CATCH FOR A PACKING CASE OR THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,145,038 CATCH FOR A PACKING CASEOR THE LIKE Gunnar E. Swanson, Middletown, Conn. Nielsen lgardvgareCorp, 770 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford 6,

Filed Get. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,798 23 @laims. (Cl. 292-113) Thisinvention relates to a catch for use in releasably securing together twoseparable panels as for example the mating panels provided by the coverand main body of a packing case. More particularly, this inventionrelates to a catch adapted for attachment to one of said separablepanels and including a hooked latch member or the like adapted to engagea strike attached to the other of said panels and which latch member ismovable relative to the first panel by the action of the catch to exertor release a closing pressure on said strike.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved catch ofthe foregoing type including a main lever movable about a fixed axis formoving said latch member between open and closed positions relative tothe strike and which catch in the closed condition is resistant toaccidental release by shock loads, vibrations or the like. In keepingwith this object of the invention a more particular object is to providea locking means for holding the main lever in the position correspondingto a closed position of the latch member and which locking means ishighly resistant to release by normally encountered shock forces and thelike while nevertheless being easily releasable by manual action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control lever for acatch of the foregoing character which requires relatively simplemanipulative movements to effect release and which may be easilyoperated by a gloved hand.

A further object of this invention is to provide a catch of theforegoing character wherein the locking means are released and set as aresult of apparent and generally normal opening and closing movements ofthe main lever.

Another object of this invention is to provide a catch of the foregoingcharacter which is relatively economical to manufacture and which has arelatively low profile so as to project only a small distance from thepanel or other surface to which it is attached.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a catch of theforegoing character a control lever which is capable of moving aconsiderable distance relative to the main lever and through which ampleforce can be transmitted to the main lever to permit manual operation ofthe main lever by means of the control lever.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a catch of theforegoing character which is so constructed as to permit the easyapplication of a seal wire for sealing the catch in the closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the drawings forming a part thereof.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and suchembodiments will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that thedrawings and descriptions are not to be construed as defining orlimiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a catch embodying the presentinvention, the full lines showing the catch in its closed condition andthe broken lines showing the catch in its released position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the catch of FIG. 1 with the same beingshown in its released condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the catch being shown in itsclosed condition.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom view of the main lever and control lever ofthe catch of FIG. 1 with various parts being broken away to show moreclearly other parts.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line6-6 of FIG. 3 and shows the control lever in its normal or lockedposition relative to the main lever with the main lever being shown inits closed position.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but shows the control lever moved to itsunlocked position.

FIG. 8 is generally similar to FIG. 7 but shows the main lever moved toa partially released position.

FIG. 9 is generally similar to FIG. 8 but shows the main a lever moveddownwardly slightly from the FIG. 8 position.

FIG. 10 is a view generally similar to FIG. 5 but shows a catchconstruction comprising another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view generally similarto FIG. 6 but showing the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the control levermoved to its unlocked position.

FIG. 13 is a view generally similar to FIG. 5 but shows a catchconstruction comprising still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view generally similarto FIG. 6 but showing the embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but shows the control lever movedto its unlocked position.

Latch Construction of FIGS. 1 1'0 9 In accordance with the presentinvention there is provided a catch having a body adapted for attachmentto one of two separable panels or the like and including a main leverpivotally secured to the body for movement about a fixed axis betweenfirst and second positions for the purpose of moving an associated latchmember or the like into and out of closing relation with a strike fixedto the other separable panel. Carried by the main lever is a controllever which is engageable by the fingers and/ or thumb of a user for thepurpose of moving the main lever between its first and second position.The control lever is movable both longitudinally and angularly relativeto the main lever and includes at least one generally longitudinallyextending stop surface which engages a corresponding stop surface on thebody of the catch to hold the main lever in the position correspondingto the closed condition of the latch member. Biasing means are providedbetween the control member and the main lever for biasing the controllever toward its locked relationship with the body member, and means arefurther provided between the main lever and the control leverfor movingthe control lever longitudinally of the main lever and out of lockedrelationship with the body member as a result of a manual force appliedto the control lever in the direction corresponding to move ment of themain lever toward the position corresponding to an open condition oflatch member.

One latch construction embodying the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 9,inclusive. Referring to these figures the illustrated catch includes abody member 15 having a generally fiat base portion 16 adapted forattachment to a panel 17 as by a plurality of rivets 18, 18.

Also, included on the body member are two longitudinally extending andlaterally spaced side flanges 19, 19 which are integral with the baseportion 16.

Located between the body side flanges 19, 19 is a main lever 20 havingtwo laterally spaced side flanges 21, 21 which are received between thebody side flanges 19, 19 and which are pivotally secured at theirforward ends to the forward ends of the body side flanges 19, 19 by atransverse pivot pin 22. The pivot pin 22 therefore defines a fixedtransverse axis about which the main lever is movable between first andsecond positions relative to the body member. FIG. 3 and the solid linesof FIG. 1 show the main lever in its second or closed position relativeto the body while FIG. 2 and they broken lines of FIG. 1 show the mainlever in its first or released position. The main lever 2t) alsoincludes a transverse web 23 which extends between and is integral withthe bottom edge portions of the two side flanges 21, 21. Along theirupper edge portions the side flanges 21, 21 of the main lever areprovided with two short tabs 24, 24 which project inwardly toward oneanother from the associated flanges.

Associated with the main lever 28 is a latch member 25 having a forwardportion adapted to engage a strike on the associated panel 26. In theillustrated case the strike is integral with the panel 26 andconstitutes a forwarclly extending bead 27, the forward portion of thelatch member 25 being provided with a hook 28 adapted to engage the bead27 as shown in FIG. 1. The rear end portion of the latch member 25 ispivotally connected to the main lever by a transverse pivot pin 29 whichis located rearwardly of the first pivot pin 22. From FIG. 1 it willtherefore be obvious that as the main lever 20 is moved from its firstor broken line position to its sec-- 0nd or full line position the latchmember 25 Will be brought into engagement with the bead or strike 27 onthe panel 26 so as to exert closing pressure between the two panels 26and 17. From FIG. 4 it will also be noted that the pivot pin 29 is solocated relative to the bead 27 and to the pivot pin 22 that as the mainlever is moved. to its second position the pivot pin 29 passes overcenter or beyond the line drawn between the head 27 and the pin 22 sothat when the main lever is in its second position it is normallyretained in such position by the closing pressure and the over centerposition of the pivot pin 29.

Even though the main lever is normally maintained in its, secondposition by the over center action, shock loads, vibrations or the likemay accidentally cause the main lever to move to its first or releasedposition. To guard against this occurrence, the main lever hasassociated therewith a control lever 32 which is movable longitudinallyand angularly relative to the main lever. When the main lever is in itssecond or closed position the control lever 32 normally occupies theposition shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The lever 32 comprises a, generallyflat top portion 34 and. two laterally spaced side flanges 36, 36 whichare located between the side flanges 21, 21 of the main lever and whichextend inwardly from the top portion 32 toward the base portion 16 ofthe body member when the main lever is in the second or closed position.The rear portions of the two side flanges 36, 36 are bent laterallyoutwardly to define two laterally outwardly extending. andlongitudinally inclined ears 38, 38.

The two ears 38, 38 in turn define two inclined stop surfaces 39, 39which engage two correspondingly inclined stop surfaces 40, 40 on, therear end portions of the body ,sidefl'anges 19, 19. Due to theirinclined nature the surfaces 39, 39 and 40, 40,. extend some distancelongitudi'nally or in the direction toward and away from the pivot pin22, and as best shown in FIG., 3', when the control lever 32 is in itsnormal or locked position and the main leveris in its second or closedposition the surfaces 39, 39 longitudinally overlap the surfaces 40, 4t)and thereby in cooperation with the slot and pin connection between thecontrol lever and the main lever as hereinafter described restrain themain lever against movement to its first or released position.

The control lever 32 is secured to the main lever 20 by a transversepivot pin 42 carried by the rear end portions of the main lever sideflanges 21, 21. This pivot pin 42 passes through enlarged openings 44,44 in the side flanges 36, 36 of the control lever which openingsloosely receive the pivot pin so as to permit the control lever to movesome distance longitudinally as well as angularly relative to the mainlever. The openings 44, 44 may take various different shapes butpreferably, and as shown, are triangular or some other shape so thateach opening includes a rear edge 46 inclined substantially in the samedirection as the associated ear 38 so as to be substantially parallelthereto, and an upper horizontal edge 48. The control lever is thereforemovable angularly relative to the main lever as by moving angulary aboutthe axis of the pivot pin 42 and is also movable longitudinally of themain lever as by sliding movement of the edges 46, 46 or 48, 48 relativeto the pivot pin. When the control lever is in its normal position thepin 42 is located rearwardly in the openings 44, 44, as shown in FIG. 6,so as to engage the notch defined in each opening by the intersection ofthe surfaces 46 and 48 and the angular position of the control lever isalso such that the tabs 24, 24 on the main lever engage the stopsurfaces 49, 49 provided on the forward portions of the control leverside flanges 36, 36. In this position of the control lever the mainlever is therefore effectively locked in its closed position and thearrangement of the parts is such as to resist opening movements of themain lever as a result of shock loads, an opening force on the mainlever being transmitted by the pin 42 to the control lever through thewalls of the openings 44, 44 and in turn resisted by the engagement ofthe ears 38, 33 with the surfaces 40, 40.

Associated with the control lever 34 is a means for biasing the same toits normal position and for resisting its movement both angularly andlongitudinally from such normal position. This means may take variousforms and in the illustrated case comprises a biasing spring 52 which,as shown best in FIG. 5, surrounds the pivot pin 42 between the sideflanges 36, 36 of the control lever. The spring 52 includes two coiledportion 54, 54 which are joined by a forwardly extending U-shapedportion' 56 that engages the transverse web 23 of the main lever. Oneach end of the spring 52 is an arm 58 which extends generally forwardlyand transversely of the control lever and which at its forwardmost endis received in a 'rearwardly opening U-shaped notch defined by a tab 60bend downwardly and rearwardly from the forward edge of the controllever.

In operation the spring 52 serves both as a torsion spring and as acompression spring. When the control lever is in the normal positionillustrated in FIG. 6 the U-shaped portion 56 of the spring bearingagainst the web 23 and the two arms 58, 58 bearing against the topportion 34 of the control lever tend to urge the control lever in theclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 about the axis of the pin 42 andto thereby normally hold the stop surfaces 49, 49 of the control leveragainst the tabs 24, 24 of the main lever and to resist movement of thecontrol lever about the axis of the pin 42 in the counterclockwisedirection. In addition, the two arms 58, 58 of the spring 52 are held ina compressed state and press forwardly against the control lever tabs60, 60 so as to normally hold the control lever in a longitudinallyforward position relative to the main lever and to resist movement ofthe control lever rearwardly or to the right as viewed in FIG. 6.

The control lever 32 constitutes essentially a rearward extension of themain lever 20 and is movable with the main lever between its closed andreleased positions. The top portion 34 of the control lever is-freelyaccessible to the thumb and/or fingers of a user and extends rearwardlybeyond the rear end portions of the body member so that the rear portionthereof may easily be grasped by a user. Referring to FIG. 4, an upwardor lifting lever.

the rear or right-hand portion thereof. down on the control lever tobring the same to the posiforce is applied to the rear or right-hand endportion of the control lever 32 to move the main lever to its first orreleased position while a downward or lowering movement is applied tothe control lever to move the main lever to its second or closedposition. When the main lever is in the closed position as shown in FIG.5, and before lifting force is applied to the control lever, the controllever by engagement of the cars 38, 3% with the stop surfaces ll), 40 onthe body member prevents accidental movement of the main lever to itsreleased position. As a lifting force is applied to the rear portion ofthe control lever, however, the main lever initially remains stationaryand the control lever pivots angularly about the axis of the pivot pin42. At the same time the lifting force applied to the control lever alsocauses the pin 4-2 to slide along the inclined surfaces 46, of theopenings 44, 44 in the side flanges of the control lever, andconsequently causes the control lever to move longitudinally andrearwardly relative to the main lever. The surfaces 46, 46 and the pin42 therefore act as a cam means for moving the control lever rearwardlyin response to the lifting force. As shown in FIG. 7, the result of thisrearward and angular movement of the control lever is that the lockingears 38, 33 are moved out of engagement or locked relationship with thestop surfaces 40, 4t on the body member. In this regard it should benoted that as the lifting force is applied to the rear end of thecontrol lever the main lever initially remains in its closed positionbecause of the over center force applied thereto by the latch member 25and/or because of the engagement between the ears 38, 3d and the stopsurfaces 40, 4'1 with the result that the lifting force is resisted toproduce a reaction which rotates the control lever relative to the mainlever and causes the surfaces 46, 46 to slide relative to the pin 42against the face of the spring 52.

If after the control lever is moved to the position shown in FIG. 7 thelifting force is maintained thereon, the main lever will be swung to itsfully released position, further pivotal movement of the control leverrelative to the main lever and in the counterclockwise direction beingprevented by engagement of the forward portion of the control lever withthe Web 23. If the lifting force is applied only momentarily to thecontrol lever and released shortly after the control lever reaches theposition of FIG. 7 the control lever will snap back to its normalposition relative to the main lever, but after doing so the locking ears3%, 33 on the control lever will now engage the downwardly andrearwardly inclined surfaces 62, 62 on the rear end portions of the bodyflanges 19, 19 so as to no longer hold the main lever in a lockedcondition. Thereafter, a further lifting force may be applied to therear end of the control lever to move it and the main lever to thereleased position of the main This fact is of importance in that itallows release of the locking means by pressing down on the forwardportion of the control lever rather than by lifting up on the rearportion thereof. That is, referring to FIG. 7, the control lever 32 maybe moved to the illustrated position by pushing down on the forward orleft-hand portion of the control lever rather than by lifting up on Bypressing tion shown in FIG. 7 and by then releasing the pressure,

the control lever will generally snap back to the position shown in PEG.8. Thereafter the control lever may be raised from the position shown inFIG. 8 to the position corresponding to the released position of themain lever. One advantage of being able to release the control lever .bypressing down on its forward portion is that when the latch is in theclosed position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 .the rear portion thereof islocated relatively close to the on the control lever, with the finger orthumb of an ungloved hand, but the same space may not he sufficient topermit the convenient insertion of a gloved finger or thumb. Therefore,when the users hands are gloved, or any other time, the latch may beopened by depressing and then releasing the forward portion of thecontrol lever to bring the same to the position shown in FIG. 8. In thisposition the rear edge portion of the control lever is locatedconsiderably further from the panel 17 than it is when the catch isfully closed and the distance between the control lever and the panel issuch that a gloved finger or thumb may be conveniently inserted underthe rear portion of the control lever to apply a lifting force. Insteadof following this exact procedure the same results may also be obtainedby depressing the forward portion of the control lever to bring the sameto about the position shown in FIG. 7, whereat the rear portion israised from the panel, and then while holding the lever in this positioninserting a thumb or finger under the rear portion and using it to applya lifting force.

When the main lever is moved from its first or released position towardits second or closed position the main lever and the control lever willagain be brought to the position shown in FIG. 8 whereat the ears 38, 38engage the rearwardly and downwardly inclined surfaces 62, 62 of thebody member. After this engagement occurs, further downward pressure onor near the rear or righthand portion of the control lever will causethe ears 38, 33 to slide along the surfaces 62, 62 so as to cam thecontrol lever 32 rearwardly relative to the main lever 29. During thiscamming movement of the control lever the horizontal surfaces 48, 48 ofthe openings 44, 44 in the side flanges 36, 36 of the control leverslide relative to the transverse pivot pin 4-2 and little or no angularmovement of the control lever relative to the main lever occurs. Just asthe ears 38, 38 pass over the apexes or extreme rear portions of thebody member flanges as defined by the intersections of the inclinedsurfaces 40, 4t and 62, 62 the position of the transverse pin 42 in theopenings 44, 44 is as shown in FIG. 9. After the control and main leversmove downwardly beyond the position shown in FIG. 9 the control leveragain moves forwardly relative to the main lever to the position shownin FIGS. 5 and 6 whereat the locking ears 38, 38 engage the inclinedsurfaces 40, 46 to hold the control lever and the main lever in a lockedcondition relative to the body member.

At this time it should also be noted that the construction of the latchis such as to permit the easy application of a seal wire when the mainlever 20 is in its closed position. Referring to FIG. 1 a seal wireopening, such as shown at 61 is provided in each body side flange 19 ata point intermediate the ends thereof. Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and 9other openings, such as shown at 63, are provided in each of the mainlever side flanges 21, 21 slightly forwardly of the tabs 24, 24-. Thelocation of the openings 61, 61 and 63, 63 is such that they registerwhen the main lever is closed and is further such as to make the samereadily accessible for the insertion of a seal wire.

Latch Construction of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 Various different means may beemployed for securing the control lever to the main lever and forbiasing the same to its normal position, and FIGS. l0, l1 and 12 show alatch construction employing such a meansdilferent from the meansemployed in the construction of FIGS. 1 to 9. In these three figures themain lever 20, the body 15, and all other parts of the catch, except forthe control lever, may be and are illustrated as being, similar to thecorresponding parts shown in. FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive. Therefore, thisdiscussion will be limited to the control lever, and in FIGS. 10, 11 and12 the illustrated main lever and other parts have been given the samereference numerals as the corresponding parts shows in FIGS. 1 to 9.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the control lever of the illustratedlatch is indicated by the reference numeral 64 and is generally similarto the control lever 32 of FIGS. 1 to 9, it including two side flanges66, 66 located between the side flanges 21, 21 of the main lever and italso including two laterally outwardly extending ears 67, 67 whichcooperate with the inclined surfaces 46, 41 and 62, 62 of the body sideflanges in the same manner as the ears 38, 38 of the lever 32.

The controllever 64 is secured to the main lever 20 by a firsttransverse pin 68 which is carried by and secured to the side flanges21, 21 of the main lever and which'pin passes through enlargedtriangular openings 69, 69 in the side flanges 66, 66 of the controllever 64. As shown in FIG. 11 each opening 69 includes a downwardly andforwardly inclined surface 70 generally parallel with the associated ear67 and a generally horizontal surface 72. From FIG. 11 it will beevident that the connection provided by the pin 68 and the opening 69permits the control lever 64 to move angularly about the axis of the pin68 and also rearwardly or to the right from the position shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 11 illustrates the normal position of the control lever 64 in whichposition the control lever is so positioned longitudinally of the mainlever that the transverse pin 68 engages the right hand end of theopenings 69, 69 and is so positioned angularly relative to the mainlever as to be substantially parallel thereto. The control lever isbiased to this normal position by means including a second transversepin 74 carried by and secured to the side flanges 21, 21 of the mainlever and extending through longitudinally extending slots formed one ineach of the control lever side flanges 66, 66, one of said slots beingshown at 75 in FIGS. 11 and 12. R- tatably secured to the pin 74 is abushing 76 having fixed thereto a forwardly projecting guide arm 77which passes through an opening formed in a flange 78 bent downwardlyfrom the upper surface of the control lever 64 at the forward end of thelatter. Received on the guide arm 77 is a helical compression spring 79so as to urge the control lever forwardly relative to the transverse pin74, and therefore relative to the main lever 20 and to resistlongtiudinal movement of the control lever in the opposite or rearwarddirection.

From FIGS. and 11 it will be obvious that in addition to the action ofthe spring 79 urging the control lever 64 to its forward position, thetransverse pin 68 through engagement with the surfaces 71), 7t and 72,72 of the openings 69, 69 will urge the control lever to its normalangular position as the control lever is moved to its forward position.4

When a lifting force is applied to the rear end portion of the controllever, or when a depressing force is applied to the forward end portionof the control lever, the control lever is moved to an unlatchedposition relative to the body flanges, such position being shown in FIG.12. As the control lever moves to this position the slot 75 movesrearwardly relative to the transverse pin 74 and the inclined surfaces70, 70 of the openings 68, 68 slide relative to the first transverse pin68 to bring the same to the positions shown in FIG. 12. After thecontrol lever 64 is brought to the unlatched position shown in FIG. 12the catch may be released and thereafter reclosed in the same manner asdescribed above in. connection with the latch of FIGS. 1 to 9.

Latch Construction of FIGS. 13, 14 and FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show stillanother embodiment of the invention, in which embodiment the controllever is secured to the main lever in a manner somewhat different fromthat shown in the previous two constructions and in which embodimentsomewhat different means are employed for providing longitudinallyextending coengaging latch or stop surfaces on the control lever and thebody member.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, the body member of the illustratedcatch is shown by the reference numeral 80. This body member isgenerally similar to the body member 15 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, exceptinstead of being provided with inclined surfaces such as 40, 40 and 62,62 on the rear end portions of the side flanges, a transverse bar 82 isprovided which bar 82 is securely fixed to the rear end portion of thebody and extends between the side flanges thereof.

The main lever of the latch is illustrated at 84 and similar to the mainlever of FIGS. 1 to 9 includes two transversely spaced side flanges 85,85, a transverse web 86 and two short inwardly extending tabs 87, 87.The control lever is illustrated at 88 and includes two laterally spacedside flanges 89, 89 which are located between the side flanges 85, ofthe main lever.

The control lever 88 is secured to the main lever 84 by means of a firsttransverse pin 90 which is fixed to the side flanges 89, 89 of thecontrol lever and which pin includes two laterally outwardly extendingportions which portions are received in longitudinally extending slotsformed in the side flanges of the main lever, one such slot being shownat 91 in FIGS. 14 and 15. Also provided is a second transverse pin 92located forwardly of the first pin 96 and also fixed to the side flanges89, S9 of the control lever. The second transverse pin 92, 92 includeslaterally outwardly extending portions which portions are received intriangular shaped enlarged openings formed in the side flanges 85, 85 ofthe main lever, one such opening being shown at 93 in FIGS. 14 and 15.Each opening 93 includes a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 94and a generally horizontal surface 95.

FIG. 14 shows the normal position of the control lever 38 relative tothe main lever 84. From this figure it will be observed that each sideflange 89 of the control lever is formed to provide a forwardlyextending notch which at least partially receives the transverse pin 82and which includes a longitudinally extending surface 96 which isengageable with the bottom longitudinally extending surface of the bar82 to prevent movement of the main lever 84 from its illustrated orclosed position. On each side flange of the control member is aforwardly and downwardly inclined surface 97.

The control lever 88 is urged to the normal position of FIG. 14 by abiasing means which includes a bushing 98 rotatably received on thesecond pin 92 and having fixed thereto a forwardly extending guide arm99 which at its forward end passes through an opening in a tab 100 bentupwardly from the forward edge of the transverse web 23 of the mainlever. Received on the guide arm is a helical compression spring 161which is compressed between the bushing 98 and the tab 199 so as to urgethe second transverse pin 92, and therefore the control lever 88,rearwardly relative to the main lever 84. In addi tion to the spring 161urging the control lever 88 rearwardly the action of the transverse pin92 in the triangular openings 93, 93 and the movement of the pin 90 inthe elongated slots 91, 91 causes the lever 88 to be also biased to itsnormal angular position relative to the main lever.

In operation, the control lever 88 is moved to an unlocked positionrelative to the transverse bar 82 by applying a lifting force to therear end portion of the control lever 88 or by applying a depressingforce to the forward portion thereof. Either force causes the rear endof the control lever to move upwardly and at the same time a resultantforce is applied between the sec- 'ond transverse pin 92 and theinclined surfaces 94, 94

of the openings 93, 93 causing the pin 92 to move along the surfaces 94,94 and therefore downwardly and forwardly relative to the main lever. Asthe pin 92 does move forwardly relative to the main lever the lockingsurface 96 also moves forwardly relative to the bar 82 so as to moveforwardly beyond said latter to an unlatched position. The unlatchedposition of the control lever 88 is shown in FIG. from which figure itwill be observed that the control lever is now unlocked relative to thebar 82 so as to free the main lever for movement to its open or releasedposition. When the main lever is returned to its closed position theinclined surfaces 97, 97 on the control lever engage the bar 82 and camthe control lever 88, 83 forwardly relative to the main lever therebyallowing the bar 82 to again enter the notches formed on the rear endportions of the control lever side flanges 89, 89.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a catch for use in releasably securing together two separablepanels or the like one of which includes a strike, the combinationcomprising a body adapted for attachment to the other of said panels, amain lever pivotally connected to said body for movement relativethereto about a fixed transverse axis between closed and releasedpositions corresponding respectively to closed and released conditionsof said catch, a member adapted to engage said strike and pivotallyconnected with said main lever, a control lever carried by the free endportion of said main lever and including a rear portion freelyaccessible to a user, coengaging locking means on said body and integralwith said control lever for holding said main lever in its closedposition relative to said body, said control lever being movablerelative to said main lever between first and second positions at whichpositions said control lever is respectively locked and unlockedrelative to said body when said main lever is in its closed position,biasing means between said main lever and said control lever for urgingsaid control lever into its first position relative to said main lever,and means for moving said control lever to its second position relativeto said main lever so as to unlock the same from said body in responseto a force applied to said rear portion of said control lever and in thedirection corresponding to movement of said main lever toward itsreleased position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by saidcontrol lever having an exposed forward portion, said means for movingsaid control lever to its unlocked position being additionallyresponsive to a depressing force applied to said forward portion toeffect movement of said control lever to its sunlocked position.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by means formoving said control lever relative to said main lever and into lockedrelationship with said body as said main lever is moved toward itsclosed position.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further characterized by saidcoengaging locking means on said body and integral with said controllevercomprising respectively portions of said body and said controllever which same portions also comprise said means for moving saidcontrol lever relative to said main lever and into locked relationshipwith said body as said main lever is moved toward its closed position.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by saidlocking means on said body and integral with said control levercomprising respectively portions of said body and said control leverwhich portions are so shaped as to define oppositely facing firstsurfaces which longitudinally overlap when said main lever is in itsclosed position and said control lever in its first position relative tosaid main lever and which surfaces are moved out of overlappedrelationship when said control lever is in its second position relativeto said main lever, said portions of said body and control lever beingalso so shaped as to define coengageable cam surfaces for moving saidentire lever relative to said main lever so as to permit said firstsurfaces to return to longitudinally overlapped relationship as saidmain lever is moved toward its closed position.

6. In a catch for use in releasably securing together two separablepanels or the like one of which includes strike, the combinationcomprising a body adapted for attachment to the other of said panels, amain lever pivotally connected to said body for movement relativethereto about a fixed transverse axis between closed and releasedpositions corresponding respectively to closed and released conditionsof the catch, a member adapted to engage said strike and pivotallyconnected with said main lever, a control lever carried by the free endportion of said main lever and including a rear portion freelyaccessible to a user, said control lever being movable both angularlyrelative to said main lever between first and second angular positionsand longitudinally of said main lever toward and away from said fixedaxis, means on said body defining a first stop surface extending somedistance longitudinally of said body, means on said control leverdefining a second stop surface extending some distance longitudinally ofsaid control lever and which second stop surface is movable into and outof longitudinally overlapped relationship with said first stop surfaceas a result of longitudinal movement of said control lever betweenlocked and unlocked positions respectively relative to said main leverto prevent or permit movement of said main lever to its releasedposition when said main lever is in its closed position, biasing meansbetween said main lever and said control lever for urging said controllever longitudinally toward its locked position and also for urging thesame angularly toward said first angular position, and means for movingsaid control lever longitudinally of said main lever toward saidunlocked position in response to a force applied to said control levertending to move the same angularly relative to said main lever towardsaid second angular position.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 further characterized by saidcontrol lever and said means for moving the same being so constructedand arranged that said rear portion of said control lever extendsgenerally parallel to said panel when said main lever is in its closedposition and said control lever is in its first angular positionrelative to said main lever and that said rear portion of said controllever is moved away from said panel as said control lever is movedangularly of said main lever toward said second angular position withthe result that said rear control lever portion is moved away from saidpanel as the control lever is moved longitudinally to its unlockedposition.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 further characterized by saidcontrol lever having an exposed forward portion, said means for movingsaid control lever longitudinally of said main lever being additionallyresponsive to a depressing force applied to said forward portion toeffect movement of said control lever to its unlocked position.

9. The combination defined in claim 6 further characterized bycoengageable means on said control lever and on said body for movingsaid control lever relative to said main lever to permit said stopsurfaces to return to overlapped relationship as said main lever isreturned toward its closed position by a closing force applied to saidrear portion of said control lever.

10. The combination defined in claim 6 further characterized by saidmeans for removing said control lever longitudinally including a pair oflaterally spaced side flanges on said control lever, a pair of laterallyspaced side flanges on said main lever, a transverse pin carried by andfixed to one of said pairs of flanges, the other pair of said flangesbeing provided with openings which receive portions of said transversepin and which openings are considerably longer than said pin portions,said openings defining generally inclined cam surfaces which en gagesaid pin and move said control lever longitudinally of said main leveras a force is applied to said control lever tending to move the sameangularly relative to said main lever toward said second angularposition.

11. In a catch for use in releasably securing together two separablepanels or the like one of which includes a strike, the combinationcomprising a body adapted for attachment to the other of said panels andincluding two laterally spaced side flanges defining at their rear endstwo upwardly and rearwardly inclined end faces, a main lever pivotallysecured at its forward end to said body for movement between closed andreleased positions relative to said body about a fixed transverse axisand having two laterally spaced side flanges received between said bodyflanges, a member adapted to engage said strike and pivotally connectedwith said main lever, a control lever located between the rear endportions of said main lever flanges, means connecting said control leverto said main lever for movement of said control lever longitudinally ofsaid main lever toward and away from a normal longitudinal position andalso angularly about a transverse pivot axis toward and away from anormal angular position, biasing means for urging said control leverlongitudinally and angularly toward said normal positions rela tive tosaid main lever and for resisting movement of said control lever in theopposite directions, a pair of oppositely laterally extending inclinedears on said control lever which ears respectively engage said inclinedend faces of said body flanges to restrain said main lever againstmovement from its closed position when said main lever is in its closedposition and said control lever in its normal longitudinal and angularpositions and means for moving said control lever longitudinally againstthe force of said biasing means to disengage said ears from saidinclined end faces in response to movement of said control leverangularly away from said normal position.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 further characterized by saidmeans connecting said control lever to said main lever including a pairof laterally spaced side flanges on said control lever located adjacentsaid pair of side flanges on said main lever, a transverse pin carriedby and fixed to one of said latter pairs of side flanges, and the otherof said latter pairs of side flanges having triangular shaped openingstherein which openings receive portions of said transverse pin and areconsiderably larger than said pin portions, each of said triangularshaped openings including one generally longitudinally extending surfaceand one surface inclined in substantially the same direction as the earson said control lever.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 further characterized by saidtransverse pin being carried by and fixed to said main lever flanges,and said biasing means comprising a spring received on said transversepin and including parts which engage said main lever and said centrallever to exert a force between said main lever and said control levertending to move the same about the axis of said pin and another forcebetween said transverse pin and said control lever tending to move thecontrol lever longitudinally of said main lever.

14. The combination defined in claim 12 further cha acterized by saidtransverse pin being carried by and fixed .to said main lever flanges,and said biasing means comprising a spring received on said transversepin and including two coil portions joined by a forwardly extending U-shaped portion which engages said main lever and two arms which extendforwardly and transversely from either end of the spring and whichengage said control lever, said U-shaped portion and said arms beingheld in torsion between said main level and said control lever and saidarms being held in compression between said control lever and said mainlever and arranged to urge said control lever longitudinally of saidmain lever.

15. The combination defined in claim 12 further characterized by asecond transverse pin carried by and fixed to said one pair of sideflanges, the other of said pairs of side flanges being provided withelongated generally longitudinal slots which receive portions of saidsecond pin, and said biasing means including a spring for urging saidcontrol lever longitudinally relative to said main lever.

16. In a catch for use in releasably securing together two separablepanels or the like one of which includes a st ike, the combinationcomprising a body adapted for attachment to the other of said panels andincluding two laterally spaced side flanges, a transverse bar carried byand extending between the rear end portions of said side flanges, a mainlever pivotally secured at its forward end to said body for movementbetween closed and released position relative to said body about a fixedtransverse axis and having two laterally spaced side flanges receivedbetween said body flanges, a member adapted to engage said strike andpivotally connected with said main lever a control lever located betweenthe rear end portions of said main lever flanges, means connecting saidcontrol lever to said main lever for movement of said control leverlongitudinally of said main lever toward and away from a normallongitudinal position and also anvularly about a transverse pivot axistoward and away from a normal angular position, biasing means for urgingsaid control lever longitudinally and angularly toward normal positionsrelative to said main lever and for resisting move ment of said controllever in the opposite directions, means defining notches in the rear endportions of said control lever side flanges for receiving saidtransverse bar and defining generally longitudinally extending surfacesengageable with said bar to restrain said main lever against movementfrom its closed position when said main lever is in its closed positionand said control lever is in its normal longitudinal and angularpositions, and means for moving said control lever longitudinallyagainst the force of said biasing means to remove said bar from saidnotches in response to movement of said control lever angularly awayfrom said normal position.

17. in a catch for use in releasably securing together two separablepanels or the like one of which includes a strike, the combinationcomprising a body adapted for attachment to the other of said panels andincluding two laterally spaced side flanges defining at their rear endstwo inclined end faces, a main lever pivotally secured at its forwardend to said body for movement between closed and released positionsrelative to said body about a fixed transverse axis and having twolaterally spaced side flanges respectively adjacent said body flanges, amember adapted to engage said strike and pivotally connected with saidmain lever, a control lever located between the rear end portions ofsaid main lever flanges and including a rear portion freely accessibleto a user, said control lever also including a pair of laterally spacedside flanges disposed respectively adjacent said main lever sideflanges, said control lever side flanges including two inclined surfacesengageable with said inclined end faces of said body, means connectingsaid control lever to said main lever for movement of said control leverbetween first and second positions relative to said main lever when saidmain lever is in its closed position, said control lever surfacesoverlapping said two end faces of said body when said control lever isin its first position and being free of said two end faces when in itssecond position, biasing means between said main lever and said controllever for urging said control lever toward its first position relativeto said main lever, means for moving said control lever to its secondposition in response to a force applied to the rear portion of saidcontrol lever and in the direction corresponding to movement of saidmain lever toward its released position.

18. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by saidconnecting means including a transverse pin carried by and extendingbetween said main lever side flanges, and said control lever sideflanges being provided with openings which receive portions of saidtransverse pin and which openings are considerably larger than saidtransverse pin portions and define inclined cam surfaces for cooperationwith said pin portions.

19. The combination defined in claim 18 further characterized by saidopenings being triangular in shape.

20-. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by saidconnecting means including a transverse pin carried by and extendingbetween said control lever side flanges, and said main lever beingprovided With open ings which receive that portion of said transversepin and which openings are considerably larger than said transverse pinportions and define inclined cam surfaces for cooperation with said pinportions.

21. The combination defined in claim 20 further characterized by saidopenings being triangular in shape.

22. The combination defined in claim 17 further charcterized by each ofsaid spaced side flanges and each of said body flanges having an openingtherethrough, said openings in said main lever flanges being locatedforwardly of said control lever and said openings in said body flangesbeing arranged to register with said openings in said main lever flangeswhen said main lever is in its closed position to permit the applicationof a seal Wire through said openings.

23. The combination defined in claim 17 further characterized by saidcontrol lever including a laterally outwardly extending ear on each ofits side flanges and which two cars define said tWo inclined surfaces,and two additional inclined surfaces on the rear ends of said body sideilang s which latter two surfaces are engageable with said ears so as tomove said control lever relative to said main lever to permit said earsto return to overlapped relationship with respect to the first mentionedsurfaces on said body flanges as said main lever is returned to itsclosed position.

Swanson Sept. 6, 1960 Swanson Dec. 25, 1962

1. IN A CATCH FOR USE IN RELEASABLY SECURING TOGETHER TWO SEPARABLEPANELS OR THE LIKE ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES A STRIKE, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING A BODY ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE OTHER OF SAID PANELS, AMAIN LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVETHERETO ABOUT A FIXED TRANSVERSE AXIS BETWEEN CLOSED AND RELEASEDPOSITIONS CORRESPONDING RESPECTIVELY TO CLOSED AND RELEASED CONDITIONSOF SAID CATCH, A MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID STRIKE AND PIVOTALLYCONNECTED WITH SAID MAIN LEVER, A CONTROL LEVER CARRIED BY THE FREE ENDPORTION OF SAID MAIN LEVER AND INCLUDING A REAR PORTION FREELYACCESSIBLE TO A USER, COENGAGING LOCKING MEANS ON SAID BODY AND INTEGRALWITH SAID CONTROL LEVER FOR HOLDING SAID MAIN LEVER IN ITS CLOSEDPOSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, SAID CONTROL LEVER BEING MOVABLERELATIVE TO SAID MAIN LEVER BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS AT WHICHPOSITIONS SAID CONTROL LEVER IS RESPECTIVELY LOCKED AND UNLOCKEDRELATIVE TO SAID BODY WHEN SAID MAIN LEVER IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION,BIASING MEANS BETWEEN SAID MAIN LEVER AND SAID CONTROL LEVER FOR URGINGSAID CONTROL LEVER INTO ITS FIRST POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID MAIN LEVER,AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONTROL LEVER TO ITS SECOND POSITION RELATIVETO SAID MAIN LEVER SO AS TO UNLOCK THE SAME FROM SAID BODY IN RESPONSETO A FORCE APPLIED TO SAID REAR PORTION OF SAID CONTROL LEVER AND IN THEDIRECTION CORRESPONDING TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MAIN LEVER TOWARD ITSRELEASED POSITION.